Squeaky Fromme was one of Charles Manson's misguided followers. She was , as I've read, immature and easily misled. She sought a god and found one in Manson. I met a girl the other day who reminded me of young Americans who are easily misled and end up more radical than the average flock member. I received a CV by fax and it was from an American girl living in the Middle East. She hailed from South Dakota so I shall not name her. I called her to arrange an interview as I felt she may be su...

I have been a JU blogger for four years or so and I shall continue to be a JU blogger. But, there are some articles I like to write about that are more "Africa oriented" and I wondered, JU permitting, whether I could ask Joeusers for some tips. Personally I find places like Blogspot oversubscribed and under-read. There's a Blogspot for everyone but that means hundreds of thousands of Blogspotters who drift with the wind. JU is far more selective, though I do miss some of the old Joeuser re...

I know all about smoking. It is bad for you and it is bad for others who have to put up with second-hand foul air. It is a habit that became very popular after the first World War and was deemed socially acceptable right up to the seventies. The figures that show cancer and emphysema fatalities from smoking are not disputed. They are fact and the healthy eighties and nineties saw a downward trend in smoking to levels where only 25% of Brits , 25% of South Africans,18% of Americans and 16% of ...

The annual summit of the African Union has just ended in Ghana. A major topic of debate was the possible formation of a United States Of Africa embracing all 53 member states in a type of USA style bond of states governed by a higher body. Gwynne Dyer, a leading journalist who writes for 45 or so publications, postulates that it may make sense as Africa has so many diverse cultures and across-border languages. He is right but I doubt whether he has thought it through entirely. The Colonial po...

Salman Rushdie, he of the Satanic Verses and the ridiculous fatwa, is to be knighted by the Queen of England for services to literature. A writer of high repute and sensible logical discussion, Rushdie deserves his honour. However the powers that be (or is that the powers of irrationality?), in Iran and Pakhistan have condemned Britain for granting this knighthood. They are mortified and insulted by the knighthood. Who gives a F**k. Do we all have to bow to Islamic countries and kow-tow...

Here is the June Food quiz. Remember no googling. 1. What are the main ingredients of custard? 2. What is a Granadilla? 3. Holland's best selling beer is...? 4. Which is rarest: Black truffle or white truffle? 5. Which famous English chef is famous for the F word? 6. Yorkshire pudding is served with......(meat). 7. New York's most famous chef is........? 8. Kitchen Confidential was written by....? 9. What is Foeie Gras and why is it controversial? 10. Which ingredient in bread mak...

I'm off to London on business this Thursday. It will hopefully be cooler than searing Cairo which is peaking in the mid-thirties at 8:00pm in the evening. When I return I'll post the JU Food and Drink Quiz for June. Who will be the June winner? Let's wait and see!

The Vespa scooter is very popular in Cairo. The little machine is designed (with maximum 250 cc), to take two passengers around town. However, have you ever seen a Vespa with an aircon and washing machine strapped to the back? The rider has to stand while negotiating Cairo's traffic and his load is, to say the least, unbalancing. What about an old Russian motorcycle with side-car and five persons aboard, plus 1 sheep, a crate of tomatoes and a bamboo cage full of chickens? It is not unusua...

I borrowed a friend's Volkswagen Beetle in 1966 and went for my test. It involved a run around the block and a stop in front of the licencing office--no reversing, no hills, no parking. I did not have to take a learner's licence as I had a motorcycle licence. I'm sure it was the easiest test in South Africa. But, I did know how to drive having done so since the age of 16 (illegally of course). We had a Hudson and I practised going in and out of the garage. Then we had a Volvo and I learnt lef...

Today I saw a bee and I spoke to it. Yes, I know I'm going senile but a bee is a VIP on my balcony. He arrived and sat on the shutter door and I decided to speak to it. "Hey bee," I said, " Could you perhaps visit my barren cucumber plants and my tomatoes?" Perhaps you can wriggle around a bit and get all that pollen into a frenzy and I'll get some damn fruit. Better still, get out there and call your buddies and tell them I'm only two floors up." The bee scratched his wings and buzzed off. H...

Mother Africa is a beautiful continent. Unfortunately it is let down--disgraced actually--by leaders who treat their flock like animals. There are a handful of countries here who rule ruthlessly and stupidly and have learnt no lessons from the past or their neighbours. Many African countries have taken a lead in democratic processes and I am pleased to say that Ghana, Botswana, South Africa, Mocambique and various others have used progress and democracy to enhance the image and economy of the...

As this is my 200th article and I love food and beverage shows on TV, I thought I'd post a quiz as I know Joeusers love these. Rules: Very simple --no Googling or dictionary peeping. Straight off the bat and have a go at my twenty questions. Winner becomes Joeuser "Gourmet" for May! 1. Name three Italian cheeses. 2. What are "petit pois?" 3. What ingredients would you use to make a Bechamel sauce? 4. Venison is meat from a ____? 5. Sherry is traditionally made in which country? 6. ...

I think I'm going to write a childrens' story about my guppy George. He has to be the strongest guppy I know of. Let me explain: My son and I have shared a fish tank for over a year. We tried guppies and they died like flies. We tried little catfish and they did fairly well for months before turning belly-up too. We tried goldfish and, fortunately, two are still with us --er,that is out of ten original team members. The surviving member of our guppy family nearly didn't make it. After a go...

I want to ask Joeusers whether they have researched their family trees and where their families originally come from. I have seen from watching TV, that, in the US, there seem to be Norwegian influences, Italian influences, Irish backgrounds, Polish backgrounds and so on. Watched a programme the other day on a cooking channel(!) about Czechs and their food. Many Czech Americans have brought their cultures with them and they have endured. So it is with other groups who immigrated in the 1800'...

I wonder how many people realise that the city of Cairo would not exist without the Nile River. The river provides water for the city, irrigation for the cultivation of food, opportunities for tourism and a cooling breeze that dulls the heat of a desert climate. As you pass over the Nile via Cairo's numerous bridges you can feel the cooling effect of this nourishing river. In places it is over a mile wide. The other day we took a fellucca ride for some relaxation. You climb on board a typical...